D V D C R Y P T

ED GEIN

Directed by Chuck Parello
Produced by Hamish McAlpine
Written by Stephen Johnston
Cinematography by Vanja Cernjul
Cast: Steve Railsback, Carrie Snodgress, Carol Mansell, Sally Champlin, Steve Blackwood, Craig Zimmerman & Pat Skipper

2001/89 mins/Color/2.0 DD
1.33:1/English/UK/NTSC Region 1

Review from the First Look Home Entertainment DVD

Loosely based on the infamous serial killer, ED GEIN follows the man and the myth. In a small town of Wisconsin, Ed Gein looks a little different. He appears friendly and most of the town likes him but there is something terribly wrong with him. Tormented, abused and haunted as a kid, the full grown and adult Ed Gein is one sicko. Digging out corpses from the local cemetary, collecting "Shrinking Heads" and other weird things and constantly reminding himself of his mother, the man is troubled and twisted. After one too many mistake he is caught.

Without a doubt America's first and most infamous serial killer, Ed Gein was the reference in many of horror classics; Norman Bates in PSYCHO, Leatherface in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and Hannibal Lector in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS just to name a few. Steve Railsback strong intepretation of Gein is unfortunately the only good thing about this mess of a film. The last reel where we see Gein talking to the audience is completely out of place and ends the film in a stupid way, i was almost laughing my ass out!

The film is without any blood or gore, i know that these elements doesn't necessarily make a film but this film would have need it badly especially since this is not a per say serious recreation of the true story. Directed by Chuck Parello (who worked on HENRY PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and directed HENRY PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER 2 MASK OF SANITY), the film isn't involving or interesting. Nothing happens and while it is only 89 minutes it feels a lot longer. Parello really seem to get a kick of doing movies based on serial killers. Usually i love these kind of films but ED GEIN didn't do shit for me, sorry.

Now what about the DVD? The transfer is actually quite nice, the colors are rich, there is no artifacts or compression signs. The film is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ration (full screen). The 2.0 Dolby Digital audio sounds good, nothing spectacular though. There is an option for Spanish subtitles. The only extra is a very average trailer for the film. The film is separated in 23 chapters. It comes with no inlay card or booklet, the menus has some nice but simple animation and music. The DVD comes in a keep case. ED GEIN was also released in a box set along with two other real life serial killer films produced by First Look Home Entertainment, DAHMER & TED BUNDY.

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